The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-04-23
A Beautiful Home.

Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Garrett gave a
ball on January 10, 1887, in honor of the
completion of their new residence on Mt.
Vernon Place. The Baltimore Sun gave
the following description of the house:
The building is three stories in height,
with basement, and has a solid front OF
brownstone. The style of architecture is
probably more on the order of the French
Renaissance than anything else. The
main entrance is by an enclosed portieo,
with massive doors opening into a grand
hall, two stories in height, with paneled
walls and ceiling and open fire place, after
the style of an old English manor. All
the wood work is of English black oak,
and deliberately carved. The hall is en-
riched with panel decorations and with
choice paintings, largely of original por-
traits by Sir Peter Lely, Gainesborough,
Angelica Kaufman aud other noted pain
tiers, and also with steel suits Of mail, all
of which increase the effectiveness of the
immortal design. On the right of the hall
as you enter is reception room, with a
unique corner fire place, and on the left
are the parlor, ballroom and salon. These
latter are finished in white and gold with
richly-paneled ceilings. Back of the hall
is a splendid library, finished in mahogany,
and in the rear of that is the large dining
room, which is quantity finished in the old
Dutch style, with odd-looking buffet and
fire place deliberately carved. The parlor
and the library are upholstered in fine ex-
amples of Gobelin tapestry, with deep
friezes of allegorical paintings by artists of
distinction. All of these rooms open out
by way of balcony into the conservatory,
which is 40 by 60 feet in size, and per-
feet paradise of rare exotic plants and fow-
ers. Ascending the broad stairway, pass
ing along gallery overlooking the grand
hall, you enter two large chambers, which
are finished in mahogany, with dressing
and bathrooms attached, which are beauti-
full in frescoes and carvings. The baths
are of marble. The chambers and dressing
aad retiring-rooms on the third as well as
on the second hoor are complete In all par
ticulars and conveniences that appertain to
the most finished style of highly decorative
art. Perhaps in completeness of arrange
ment, combined with the most liberal pro-
vision of rooms and enriched furniture, the
building will vie in excellence with the
most elaborate structures of modern times.
Throughout the house the floors are inlaid
in different kinds of fancy woods, upon
which are Daghestan, Turkey and Persian
carpets and rugs, rich in their oriental
magnifcence. There are also cabinets of
precious tokens of curious designs, among
which are miniatures, snuf-boxes, dia-
monds, &C., each with story and history
of its own. The building is substantially
constructed from foundation up, and is
built with view to being as near fire
proof as possible. 1t has iron girders and
joists inlaid with lime of teal, compound
which is non-combustible. Each story is
impervious to fire from floor to floor. The
structure was nearly three years building,
and large number of skilled workmen
were constantly employed. The architects
were Messrs. McKim, Meade and White,
of New York. The western Mt. Vernon
square, which, together with the eastern
square, was beautifed at Mr.. CARROTS ex-
pense, fronts his new residence. The bridal
veil fountains in these squares are similar
to the fountains in the White House
grounds at Washington, and were imported
by Mr.. Garrett from Paris.